Aerial machine.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Pate; lted Nov. 14, 1911.

C. J. LAKE.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED HA B.18,1908.

'nv'-hwv-J sa/cheff. Lawine. i

i L tkm Uhr Nihil!! RHIN C. J. LAKE.

AERIAL MAGHINE.

` APPLIUATION FILED MAn.1a,19o9.

1,008,479, Patented N0v.14, 1911.

2 E HEETS-SHEET 2.

CHRISTOPHER J. LAKE, OF BBIDGEPOVRT, CONNEC EIC'UT.

AERIAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Application led March 18, 1909. Serial No. 484,298'.

Ydisplace and are supported `by the pressure of the air upon surfaces arranged for that pur ose,

e principal object sought to be obtained by means of the peculiar form and arrangement of parts em loyed is toproduce a ina chine which, in a dition to the usual advanan alternative construction.'

plahes or surfaces, and Whenever any of ta es sought in machines of its c1ass,will be sa e and stable under all conditions affecting 'it-'a machine that will depend neither upon constant manipulation to hold it in its normal position nor'upon the action of so-called automatic devices, but will possess an inherent tendency`to keep an even keel or'up- `right position in the air and to return to that position whenever, from any cause, its balance or equipoise is disturbed.

The successful accomplishment of the above objects depends upon the emplo ment of certain principles which may he given eect by means of apparatusdifl'ering greatl in appearance from that which shall escribe, but the best mode in which I have contem llated, a plying these Vprinciples is illustrate upon t e accompanying sheets of drawings which form a part of this specifcation and-in which, y

Figure 1 `is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 1s a diagram representing, side view,

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout.

The main portions of the machine are constructed of li ht but rigid frame-work covered lvvith a light but stout fabric. These portions. form surfaces `for the 'action ofthe air. and will be hereinafterre-ferred toas these are described as being concave or convex, it iS the under or working side that 1s. referred to.

The base of the machine is a deeltl or platthe rear 4. 4The form 2, narrow at tha front 3 and wideV at. platform is mounted on.4 three wheels 5, 6 and the wheel 5 being aty the front of the latfi rm and 6 and 7 at the. rear. The whee l curved levers 8, 9 ancl 10, which are hin ed to the deck by the ha' igers 11 'and provi e'dl with springs 12. The deck 2 carries the engine 13 and necessary operating mechanism..` It is .surmounted by a. superstructure held inV position -by struts 14 and consisting mainly of frame-work coverei l with thin material to form surfaces for the iction of the air. The main body of the su] erstructureis formed of two lanes 16 and 17 ,joined along their lower e (ges Vand dive' Iging upward to form an open ouble keel w nich acts also as a pair of dihedral wings. -I hese planes ma beof any convenient size a id shape, but find a triangular form, as oi Fig. 1, preferable and most convenient. Thi i keel-planes 16 and 17 are arranged in combination witha series of slightly inclined lifti .ig or supporting surfaces, which 4may bi variously connected with reference to the keel-planes but which I prefer to mount ab )ve them, as shown inV Figs. 1 and 3. These I.upporting surfaces 18, 19, 20 and 21 are arri ngedin a gradient se! ries along the incline upper edges of planes 16 and 17. The 'su rfaces may-be' either straight or of simplo or compound curvature in any direction but I prefer to make each of them of comp ound or reverse curva ture from front to re ir, as shown, in Fig. 1,.

and of simple trani verse,concave curvature, as shown in I 3, but I--deem it alsol good practice -ti give part or all of the surfaces simple, longitudinal, concave curves, as shown in Fig. 4. The surfaces may be of any nur iber .and mounted any manner, but I p1 `eferto use `:from three to six in the series ani l. to hinge or pivot part or all of them on thef r transverse axes, with means for altering ci adjusting their angle of inclination. he surfaces may be pivoted on posts 24 to their mid-portions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 or they may be ivoted at or near their front or rear e ges. Fig. 4 shows an arra: igement with the three forward surfaces p 'Lvoted at their rear edges. With this m: .nner ofmounting thesurfaces upright men bers are provided near the forward edge of ,i ach surface for lthe at, tachment ofthe nece ssary pulleys or other suitable mechanism i r raising and lowering Patel ,ted Nov. 14, 1e11.

45 A the machine'and pe'vents the machine'from tiltingon en d bac case of the engine stopping.

, them'. .The shape of the surfaces in plan View may be 4variously modified, but I prefer to make them as shown in Fig. 2, in which the forward surface 18 is of triangular form,

the twointermediates, 19 and 20, are of increasing width from front to rea-r and the rearmost surface 21 has its greatest width through its mid-portion, the-entire series of surfaces together being a proximately triangular in outline, which orm possesses certain advantages referred to in my application for Patent Serial No. 455,537, filed September 30, 1908. Whatever be the shape of the surfaces, 4I deem it especially desirable that each succeeding surface from front to rear shall be of greater transverse dimensions than the one before it, las is clearly shown in Fig. 2. Viewed from the front or the rear, each of the surfaces 18, 19, 20 and 21, presents a distinctly concave form in' transverse directions, as shown' in Fig. 3. When the surfaces are arranged above a pair of diverging keel planes, as shown, this L transversely concave form is believed vto be spiIling of the airw ich comes under the surfaces and to form a reservoir-like con' cavity. in which to concentrate the pressure of the air which flows upward from the diver ing keel-planes. This is believed to bea c ief factor'in giving the machine great transverse stability. ySeveral other featuresv insure longitudinal stability. The triangular form of 'the .combinedsupporting surfaces places and maintains the center of air pressure well `toward the rear and the eradient 'arrangement `of the surfaces 'distributes and lequalizes the disturbing effects which variations of wind or in s 4eed alwaysproduceton Single planes, an especially upon planes which have a forward edge of great ength. The convex form of t e extreme rear surface, as' shown at 26 in Fig, 1, gives ,turning moments about any transverse axis,

-however great the' .propulsive vp ower aplied., In this way the resultantsof the orces of .propulsion and of grav'ity are caused ttiintersectat a point which may be called the dynamical center of themachine.

The horizontal -steering of the machine is effected by two vertical rudders v40 'and 41. The forward rudder'. 40A is placed in the re'at advantage to revent spreading and e lcenter-line front of the machine as high as it can be conveniently arranged above t-he center-line ofpropulsion and above the center of lateral drift of the machine, and the rudder 4] ver much lower than these centers. Upon thelr vertical swivel posts 42 and 43 the rudders have cross-arms connected b two pairs of cords 44 and 45 with a similar cross-arm on the steering-post 46, which has a Wheel or handle 47 to be grasped by the operator. The cords connectlng the rudders with the steering-,post are so arranged, by crossin one pair of them, that the rudders., rotate 1n oppositel directions about their respective axes, and this gives the machine a llkev turning moment at both ends. The arrangement of the forward rudder high and the rear rudder low results -in a peculiarly vadvantageous mode of operation,

in that the wind againstthe rudder not only turns the machine to the right or left but cants it over promptly to the lateral inclination toward the center .of curvature which the machine mustassume before it can turn.

Control of the course of the machine in vertical directions is effected by varyin the angle of inclinationf of some or all o the surfaces 18, 19, 20 and 21. Each of these, as 19, for instance,I is held in position by cords '48V and 49 attached at its front and rear and 'passing over guide sheaves 50 and .51 to' a drum 52 having a pendant turning handle 53 within convenient reach of the y operator. ',Thecords from the surfaces 19 'and 2O are operated byl the ,same drum 52 and the cords from the surfacesA 18 and 21 are, in like manner, operated by the drum 54 and the handle 55. There may, however,

vbe a separate drum and handle for each surface and, if preferred, all the drums may be mounted on one xed shaft with means for locking them to it or to each other, so that the planes can be vadjusted either singly or 1n aving now described one of the forms in which my invention may be embodied, what I claim is:

1. In an aerial machine, a gradient series of pivotally mounted su porting surfaces extendi upward towar -the'rear, ,each of said sur aces being of variant transverse dimensions and being approximately ceinci ent with the line of greatest transverse dimension of the surface.

2. In an aerial machine, a gradient series of pivotally mounted su porting surfaces extendin` `-upward towar -the rear, each of said sur aces being of variant-'transverse d imensions and being pivoted upon an axis approximately coincident with the line ofI greatest transverse dimension of thclsur-l face, the Yrearwardsurfaces beingV of greater.

area than the others.

3. In an aerial machine, a gradient series of pivotally` mounted supporting surfaces roups of two or more at the same t-ime.

ivoted upon an axis l extending upward toward the rear, each of said surfaces being of variant transverse dimensions and being pivoted upon an axis approximately coincident with vthe line of greatest transverse dimension of the sur face, the areas of the surfaces increasing progressively from the front to the rear.`

4.` In an aerial machine, a gradient series `of pivotally mounted supporting surfaces extending upward toward the rear, said surfaces being transversely curved in concave form and the rearward surfaces being of greater area than the others.

5. In an aerial machine, a gradient series1 of pivotally mounted supporting surfaces, sa1d surfaces .being transversely curved in concave form and the rearward surfaces being of `greater transverse dimensions than extending upward toward the rear, the

transverse dimensions of the surfaces inl creasing progressively from the front to the rear and said surfaces being transversely curved in concave form.

` 9. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for `air and nearly horizontal, supporting surfaces surmounting the keel-planes.

10. Inan aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their-lower edges and diverging upward to forman open passage for air and nearly horizontal lconca-ve supporting surfaces surmounting the keel-planes.

` 11. In` an aerial machine, in combination, a pairof keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for air and a gradient series of supporting surfaces, `the rearward surfaces being of greater transverse dimensions than the others.

12. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair 4of keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upwardV to form an open passage for air and a gradient series of' supporting surfaces, the transverse dimensions of the vsurfaces increasing progressively from the front to the rear.

13. In an aerial machil e, in combination, a pair of keel-planes joii led at their lower edges and diverging up ward to` form an open passage for air and z gradient series of supporting surfaces exte iding upward toward the rear, the rearw; ard vsurfaces being of greater transverse dil iensions than the others. i i

14. In an aerial. machil e, in combination,v a pair of keel-planes joii Led at their lower edges and diverging up vard` to form an open passage for air and a gradient series of supportmg surfaces extending upward toward the rear, the trai sverse dimensions of the` surfaces increasing progressively from the front to the rea o 15. In an aerial machil e, in combination, a pair of keel-planes joi] Led at their lower edges and diverging up ,vard to form an open passage for air and gradient series of supporting surfaces surn .ounting the keel,- planes, the rearward s lrfaces being of greater transverse dim insions than the others.

16. In an aerial machil e, in combination, a pair of keel-planes joii Led at their lower edges and diverging up yvard to form an open passage for airanc a gradient series of supporting surfaces. surmounting the keel-planes,' the transversc dimensions of the surfaces increasing prog: essively from the front to the rear.

17. In an aerial `Inachil e, incombination, a pair of keel-planes-joi: ied at their lower edges and diverging up ward to form an open passage for air an(l a gradient series 'of supporting surfaces surmounting the keel-planes and extending upward toward therear, the rearward surfaces being of greater transverse dime nsions than the others. i i

18. In anaerial machil e, in combination,

edges and diverging upward to form an n open passage for air and gradient series of supporting surfaces surn lounting the keel-` planes andy extending upward toward the rear, the transverse dimensions of the sur- .faces increasing progre ;sive1y from the frontto the rear. l u

19. In an aerial machil e, in combination, a pair of triangular ke( lplanes joined at their lower edges and 'erging upward to form an open passage for air and a gradient lseries of supporting surf rees, the rearward surfaces being of greater transverse dimensions than the others.

20. In an aerial machil le, in combination,

a pair of triangular kefl-planes joined at y their lower edges and di` 'erging upward to 125 Aform an open passage for air and a gradient series ofysupporting surf: ces, the transverse dimensions of the' surfmes increasing progressively from the front to the rear.

21. In an aerial machii le, in combination, 13

.series of supporting surfaces extendin a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for air and a radient series of supporting surfaces exten ing upward toward the rear, the rearmost surfaces being of greater transverse dimensions than the others.

22. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair' of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for air and a gradient ward toward the rear, the transverse dimensions of the surfaces increasing progressively from the front to'the rear.

23. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes jointed at ltheir lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for air and a gradi-V 25. In an aerial machine, in combination,

a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for air and a gradient series of supporting surfaces surmounting the. keel-planes` and extending upward toward the rear, the rearward surfaces being of greater transverse dimensions than the others. j

26. In an aerial machine, in combination, a. pair of triangular keel-planes joined at ltheir lower edges and diverging upward to form an open vpassage for air and a gradient series of supporting surfaces surmounting the keel-planes and extending upward toward the rear, the transverse dilnensions of the surfaces increasing progressively from the front to the rear.

27. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair'of diverging keel-planes joined at their lower edges to form an -open passage for air, their upper edges rising toward the rear and a gradient series of supporting surfaces.

Q8. In an aerial machine, in combination,

of supporting surfaces surmounting them. l

30. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward and a gradient series of supporting surfaces surmounting the keel-planes and extending upward toward the rear.

l 31. In an aerial machine, 'in combination, a pair of keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for air and a gradient series of supporting surfaces surmounting them, said surfaces being transversely curved in concave form'.

32. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward to form an open passage for air and a gradient series of supporting surfaces extending upward toward the rear, surfaces of transversely curved concave form being included in the series.

38. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward, a nearly horizontal supporting surface surmounting the keel-planes and projecting beyond the rear thereof and a' propeller located at the rear of the keel-planes beneath the projecting supporting surface.

, 3,4. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of diverging keel-planes joined at their lower edges and their upper edges rising toward the rear, a gradient series of supporting surfaces surmounting the keelplanes and projecting beyond the rear thereof and a propeller located at the rear of the keel-planes beneath the projecting supporting surface.

In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and dii-'erging upward, a gradient series of supporting surfaces surmounting the keel-planes and projecting beyond the rear thereof and a propeller located at the rear of the keel-planes beneath the projecting supporting surface.

36. In'an aerial machine, in combination,

a pair of keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward, a gradient series of supporting surfaces surmounting the keel-planes and extending upward toward the rear and a propeller located in j #situated at the rear of the keel-planesin line with the kopen space between them in such manner as to draw air through said open space. f Y

39. In an aerial machine, in combination, a pair of triangular keel-planes joined at their lower edges and diverging upward and a propeller situated at the rear of the keelplanes in line with the open space between them n such manner as to draw air through l said o en space.

40. an aerial machine, in combination,

' one or more supporting surfaces, a keel lo-` cated beneath said surfaces, a rudder 1ocat-ed at the rear of and below the keel, an-

other rudder located aboi e the front portion of the keel and combined means for turning said rudders oppositely n their axes.

41. In an aerial machi 1e, in combination.Y

J LAKE. 

